By Stephen Propst
Stuck in a rut with your bipolar mood management strategies? These surprising stats can get you thinking creatively about your treatment options.
Bipolar Disorder & Uncertainty
W. Allen Wallis, an economic advisor to four US presidents, defined statistics as “a body of methods for making wise decisions in the face of uncertainty.”
If you’re like me, there’s quite a bit of uncertainty when it comes to living with bipolar. If studying some statistics can help, I’m all for it. Statistics can serve as springboards for thinking. Playing the numbers game is educational, enlightening, and empowering. It’s good exercise for your brain.
Don’t worry. This article is not going to be a refresher course in mean, median, and mode. In fact, the statistics presented are not the issue. The idea is to make you think. After all, knowledge is everything when it comes to recovery.
In managing my own case of bipolar disorder, I continually look for information that makes me stretch my mind, such as the fascinating and perplexing statistics below.
As you read each example, pause and ponder the numbers for yourself. What is your reaction? What lessons can be learned? What changes can you make to stay on track for improved wellness?
Because I want you to draw your own conclusions, I won’t point out all the principles I learned from these numbers. I will, however, provide a couple of illustrations from my own experience. And I’ll give you some questions to provoke your thoughts on numerous issues, from society to sugar to stigma. Let’s get started!
#1 Diagnosis Delays
In August 2004, the National Institute of Standards and Technology built the world’s smallest atomic clock. It’s only the size of a grain of rice, yet it’s estimated to be accurate to the second for at least 300 years. Despite such capacity for ingenuity, the average person with bipolar disorder still copes with symptoms for 10 years before he is accurately diagnosed, according to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.
QUESTIONS: Does society direct its resources and time toward issues that will make the most substantial difference in people’s lives? What can we do to improve the rate of accurately diagnosing and treating mood disorders?
#2 Public Misperceptions
Harris Interactive conducted a public knowledge survey that yielded surprising results. While 82 percent of adults said they know what bipolar disorder is, less than two-thirds of them could correctly identify it when given a list detailing several mental health conditions. Only 40 percent of the population believe someone with bipolar disorder needs to fear publicly discussing the condition but, because of shame and embarrassment, 79 percent of those with bipolar fear opening up publicly.
QUESTIONS: How effective a role am I playing in educating others and decreasing stigma? What am I doing to utilize what I’ve learned to help others? I have emceed my last two high school reunions. At such events, I try to weave in a few comments about living with bipolar—often in a humorous way. It’s amazing how many people ask in-depth questions because they want to know more. In bringing up the subject, I’m educating others and taking away some of the mystery that often surrounds mood disorders.
#3 Damaging Delays of Bipolar Depression
Mood problems can cause a reduction in brain tissue. Brain research reveals that lingering depression can result in the entire brain shrinking—as much as 10 to 15 percent in particularly sensitive zones. It’s important to note that early intervention and effective treatment can stop and even potentially reverse some of the loss.
QUESTIONS: Am I getting the best handle on my illness as early on as possible? Am I following my wellness plan?
#4 Help Wanted
Considering the number of psychiatrists by population can be enlightening. In the United States, there are 142 psychiatrists for every one million people. In Canada, the number is 120. In China, that number is 15.
QUESTIONS: Why are there so many more psychiatrists per capita in the United States and Canada? Do I recognize the importance of shopping around for the doctor who fits my needs?
#5 Appointments Against the Clock
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the average primary care doctor spends 21 minutes with each patient. A Vanderbilt University study revealed a much-reduced time of six minutes. Many psychiatrists see patients only once a month, for a 15-minute med check. According to the international research organization the Fraser Institute, Canadians wait more than 18 weeks for psychiatric treatment.
QUESTIONS: Am I spending enough time with my doctor and getting adequate attention from him? What can I do to make the most of my next visit? How’s it going so far?
#6 Caffeine Consumption
The most commonly used mood-altering drug is not lithium or an atypical antipsychotic. It’s caffeine. About 80 percent of us drink coffee on occasion; between 50 and 63 percent of us drink it daily.
QUESTIONS: What am I doing— or consuming—that might be negatively affecting my mood? To what extent am I taking lifestyle choices into account when it comes to my recovery?
#7 Surplus Sugar
The average American consumes seven pounds of sugar annually. Two out of every three Americans are overweight. According to the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey, almost one in four Canadians are facing obesity. On average, we gain one pound each year after age 25.
QUESTIONS: Can I really blame all the weight I’ve gained on the medicine I’m taking? What am I doing, like following a nutrition plan or working out at the gym, to combat weight gain?
#8 Forgetfulness Factor
Hermann Ebbinghaus was a 19th-century psychologist who developed the “Ebbinghaus Curve of Forgetting.” It revealed that the average person immediately forgets 56 percent of new material learned. Within one day, that percentage climbs to 66. Within one month, we’ve lost 80 percent of what we’ve learned.
QUESTIONS: Is my forgetfulness due to factors other than my depression? Am I doing everything I can to help manage and maintain my memory?
I try to remember to stay on top of my memory. Before bed each night, I make a list of what I need to accomplish the next day. Then, I can sleep well knowing that I’ve limited the chances of forgetting important obligations. Also, whenever someone mentions something to me in passing or I think of something I need to do, I write myself a note. These little steps make a big difference when it comes to recall. Don’t forget that!
Finally, remember that not all statistics are meaningful to us—but many are relevant to our lives. They make us contemplate the actions we take and the decisions we make. The next time you hear a sobering statistic, don’t fret. Instead, let the stat stimulate your thinking and strengthen your recovery.
Used by permission.